FIA Hill Climb Masters Gubbio - Let the games begin

13.10.2018: This Friday was “installation day” for the drivers taking part in the FIA Hill Climb Masters.
In glorious Italian sunshine, at the foot of the medieval city of Gubbio, the teams erected their awnings and paddock structures, and their

This Friday was “installation day” for the drivers taking part in the FIA Hill Climb Masters.

In glorious Italian sunshine, at the foot of the medieval city of Gubbio, the teams erected their awnings and paddock structures, and their cars passed scrutineering. The competitive action begins tomorrow from 10am with the first of two practice heats.

The streets which criss-cross the medieval city of Gubbio have been invaded by lorries and tents containing racing cars of all varieties, whose modernity provides a striking contrast with their surroundings. In the foreground, you might see a single seater resembling a Formula 1 car; in the background, the ruins of a Roman theatre.

It was relatively quiet today in Gubbio, where drivers and teams set about unloading their racing cars and applying their race numbers for the weekend’s racing.

The noise of the engines only broke this silence for a short time, during their short trip to the scrutineering area, where all the cars underwent an initial assessment by the officials in charge of the event. Tomorrow is another day: the low rumbling will turn into into a scream, amplified by an echo effect as the course winds its way through the Bottaccione Gorge.

Visitors who have come from more than 20 countries are strolling around the town, where smiles and friendly waves can be seen around every corner, whether from the residents of Gubbio, amused by so much activity, or the competitors themselves, enjoying the atmosphere and swapping points of view and experiences with other competitors who have come from so many different places.

The British are attracting the more curious fans, with their cars that are conceptually very different from their continental counterparts. The Maltese – as small as their island is – are proud to be demonstrating, with their contingent of nine drivers, that hill climb is the predominant motor sport discipline in their home country.

The Greeks, Portuguese and Irish, often isolated at the periphery of the European continent, are savouring the pleasure of being immersed in an event that is resolutely international. The Italians, who, naturally are the most represented, are on familiar ground (Gubbio is a round of the Italian Championship), and are reconnecting with the local inhabitants with whom they have formed a bond, often over several years. Such is the magic of the Masters.

170 of the 175 cars initially scheduled to take part will start the two test climbs scheduled tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. onwards.

Most of these will be driven by foreign contestants taking their first look at the terrain: the first section is relatively smooth and fast, although it is a bit tricky due to the gradient at the side of the road in certain bends, while the final section is much slower and more winding, with three hairpins.

It is along this last sector that most fans will throng, since the view from the top of the hill enables them to follow each driver’s progression along a stretch of over 700 meters in all!

More News

With 175 drivers registered and 20 national teams ready to battle it out for the Nations Cup, the 2018 edition of the FIA Hill Climb Masters is likely to be full of promise and passion.The FIA Hill Climb Masters is about to go into its third edition, in Italy next to more >>

Even before registration opens for the drivers, the FIA Hill Climb Masters, which will be held in Gubbio, Italy on 12-14 October, can already be sure to beat one record: that of the most national teams entered in a Nations Cup.The biennial Hill Climb Mast more >>

Int. Hill Climb Race OsnabrückThis coming weekend we are organising the Int. 51st Hill Climb Race Osnabrück. This very popular automobile sport event is the largest of its kind in northern and western Germany. We ar more >>

Spectacular race cars at Uphöfener BergDrivers from 14 countries are making up the grid of the Int. 51st Hill Climb Race Osnabrück on 4–5 August 2018. The 2.030 km track of Uphöfener Berg at Hilter-Borg more >>

In the Portuguese Hill Climb Championship the Audi RS 3 LMS continues its winning streak. In round five of the series, Luis Nunes secured his fifth consecutive class victory on the Rampa do Caramulo track.Eva-Maria Becker more >>

PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB Romain Dumas (F), Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak #94“Awesome! We exceeded even our own high expectations with that result. Since this week’s tests, we have known that i more >>

The Volkswagen team can count on the support of a US star, in the form of local favourite Tanner Foust. The racing driver and TV presenter was born in Denver, about 150 kilometres from Pikes Peak, and currently drives a V more >>

PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB Romain Dumas will receive a visit from his parents at the weekend. Father Maurice and mother Geneviève regularly travel to events to support their son, and th more >>

Luis Nunes remains unbeaten in his class in Portuguese hill-climb racing. On the fourth of eight race weekends of the Campeonato de Portugal de Montanha, the Rampa de Santa Marta round, the Portuguese in an Audi RS 3 LMS decided Division 4 of the touring cars in his favor, marking his fourth consecutive victory this season. more >>

Great news for fans of the discipline: the great biannual hill climb celebration will take place in Gubbio, Italy from 12 to 14 October.After the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg in 2014, and the Czech Republic in 2016, the FIA Hill Climb Masters sets its sights o more >>

- Battery in the I.D. R Pikes Peak must be charged within 20 minutes, according to regulations - Sophisticated strategy for rapid charging protects battery from overheating - Glycerol used to generate charging current in environmentally-sound manner with no harmful substances more >>

- Acura Returns With Four Competition Entries Modified Acura RDX with larger turbo and supercharger producing 350-horsepower to take on Exhibition Class Production-based Acura NSX to compete in Time Attack more >>

PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB - Fully-electric car for the most famous hill climb in the world weighs less than 1,100 kilograms, including driver - Comprehensive computer simulations accelerated development more >>

PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB - Route of hill climb in the US state of Colorado between 2,862 and 4,302 metres above sea level, making it a unique aerodynamic challenge- Open regulations for the develop more >>

The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, is pleased to announce the return of Matchsports for their second in a 10 year contract to broadcast ‘The Race to the Clouds’ live on Sunday, June 24th, 2018. more >>

An ambitious reform of the classification of hill climb cars, based on the Pf (“Performance Factor”) concept will be trialled by the FIA during the 2018 season.In all modesty, hill climb is one of the rare motor sport specialisations t more >>